Health News

Exercise May Protect Aging Brains

Date: Oct-23-2012
A new study by scientists from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland suggests exercise may protect the aging brain better than mental or leisure activity. It finds that volunteers in their 70s who exercised more had less brain shrinkage and fewer signs of decline in memory and thinking skills when they underwent brain scans a few years later. First author Alan Gow, from Edinburgh's Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, and colleagues, write about their findings in the 23 October online issue of Neurology...

Two Simple Questions Can Help Diagnose Sleep Apnea

Date: Oct-23-2012
Have you ever been "elbowed" by your bed partner because you were snoring? If yes, new research says you could have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)...

Possible Overlap Of IBS Symptoms And Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Date: Oct-23-2012
Research unveiled at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 77th Annual Scientific meeting in Las Vegas suggests a possible overlap of symptoms of two prevalent GI disorders: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and further suggests a possible link between subtle GI tract inflammation and IBS symptoms - a link that is also the focus of the first systemic review of the literature on this topic and an editorial both published in this month's American Journal of Gastroenterology...

CPAP Use Increased By Just 2.5 Hours Of Patient/Therapist Contact Time

Date: Oct-23-2012
Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is often used as therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), patient compliance with CPAP remains an issue. However, new research presented at CHEST 2012, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, shows that patients who meet with a respiratory therapist for a total of 2.5 hours within 30 days of initiating CPAP had significant compliance after 1 month of therapy...

The Importance Of Vitamin And Mineral Supplementation After Bariatric Surgery

Date: Oct-23-2012
Non-compliance with vitamin and mineral supplementation protocols after bariatric surgery could lead to nutritional deficiencies and related health complications, such as heart damage, according to two separate case reports unveiled at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 77th Annual Scientific meeting in Las Vegas...

Maternal-Newborn Separation When Both Mother And Newborn Admitted To ICU Following Birth Increases Risk Of Death Significantly

Date: Oct-23-2012
Mothers and newborns who are both admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) after delivery are significantly more likely to die compared with mom-baby pairs not needing ICU admission, found a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). As well, when both mother and baby require admission to an ICU, they are much more likely to be managed at different hospitals, thereby negatively impacting maternal-infant bonding. Researchers completed a population-based study of all 1.02 million live born singleton deliveries in Ontario between 2002 and 2010...

Extended Family Members, Younger Endometrial Cancer Patients At Increased Risk For Colorectal Cancer

Date: Oct-23-2012
New studies also highlight impact of gender, race and obesity on CRC, adenoma detection rates Women under age 50 who have been diagnosed with endometrial cancer, and first, second and third degree relatives of patients with colorectal cancer may have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), according to two separate studies unveiled at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 77th Annual Scientific meeting in Las Vegas...

Association Between Chronic Constipation And Increased Risk Of Colorectal Cancer

Date: Oct-23-2012
Patients with chronic constipation may be at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer and benign neoplasms, according to study findings unveiled at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 77th Annual Scientific meeting in Las Vegas. The study, "Risk of Developing Colorectal Cancer and Benign Neoplasm in Patients with Chronic Constipation," investigated the prevalence and incidence of colorectal cancer and benign neoplasms in 28,854 patients with chronic constipation (CC) and 86,562 controls without CC that were identified from a large retrospective U.S...

Odds Of Successful Aging Significantly Increased By Healthy Behaviors In Midlife

Date: Oct-23-2012
Engaging in a combination of healthy behaviours, such as not smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, exercise, and eating fruits and vegetables daily makes it significantly more likely people will stay healthy as they age, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). "Our study shows the cumulative impact of healthy behaviours on successful aging - the greater the number of healthy behaviours, the greater the benefit," writes Dr. Séverine Sabia, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL (University College London), UK, with coauthors...

A Little-Known, But Costly Effect Of Marijuana Use Is Severe Cyclic Nausea, Vomiting In Some Patients

Date: Oct-23-2012
Marijuana use - both natural and synthetic - may cause cannabinoid hyperemesis (CH) a little-known but costly effect that researchers suggest is a serious burden to the health care system as it often leads to expensive diagnostic tests and ineffective treatments in an effort to find the cause of a patient's symptoms and provide relief, according to two separate case reports unveiled at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 77th Annual Scientific meeting in Las Vegas...